Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <title> Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction | Kirkus Reviews </title><meta charset="utf-8" /><meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"><meta name="keywords" content="" /><meta name="description" content="" /><meta name="news_keywords" content=""/><meta name="facebook-domain-verification" content="xsygoj395zkepbhzqfobzjogu71za5" /><meta name="robots" content="index,follow,noodp,noydir" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Kirkus Reviews" /><meta property="og:title" content="" /><meta property="og:description" content="" /><meta property="og:type" content="" /><meta property="og:locale" content="en_us" /><meta property="og:url" content="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/podcast/2024-10-29/" /><meta property="og:image" content="" /><meta name="p:domain_verify" content="37b87ca836c480e9b2aef3af8de907aa" /><meta name="msvalidate.01" content="3EDA8C6B7ED6E8AEDFD2D5EA872FC0F4" /><meta property="fb:app_id" content="128362250569507" /><meta property="fb:admins" content="1016584496" /><meta name="twitter:card" content=""><meta name="twitter:title" content=""><meta name="twitter:description" content=""><meta name="twitter:image" content=""><meta name="twitter:site" content="@KirkusReviews"><meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/podcast/2024-10-29/"><link rel="canonical" href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/podcast/2024-10-29/" /><link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/header/apple-icon.png"><link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/header/apple-icon.png" type="image/png"><link rel="icon" href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/header/favicon.png" type="image/png"><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/css/vendor/progressive-image/progressive-image.css"><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/fonts/fontawesome/font-awesome.css"><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/css/app.min.css" media="screen"><noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-P8CBP8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript><script> (function (w, d, s, l, i) { w[l] = w[l] || []; w[l].push({ 'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(), event: 'gtm.js' }); var f = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j = d.createElement(s), dl = l != 'dataLayer' ? '&l=' + l : ''; j.async = true; j.src = '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id=' + i + dl; f.parentNode.insertBefore(j, f); })(window, document, 'script', 'dataLayer', 'GTM-P8CBP8'); </script><script> !function (w, d, t) { w.TiktokAnalyticsObject=t;var ttq=w[t]=w[t]||[];ttq.methods=["page","track","identify","instances","debug","on","off","once","ready","alias","group","enableCookie","disableCookie"],ttq.setAndDefer=function(t,e){t[e]=function(){t.push([e].concat(Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}};for(var i=0;i<ttq.methods.length;i++)ttq.setAndDefer(ttq,ttq.methods[i]);ttq.instance=function(t){for(var e=ttq._i[t]||[],n=0;n<ttq.methods.length;n++ )ttq.setAndDefer(e,ttq.methods[n]);return e},ttq.load=function(e,n){var i="https://analytics.tiktok.com/i18n/pixel/events.js";ttq._i=ttq._i||{},ttq._i[e]=[],ttq._i[e]._u=i,ttq._t=ttq._t||{},ttq._t[e]=+new Date,ttq._o=ttq._o||{},ttq._o[e]=n||{};n=document.createElement("script");n.type="text/javascript",n.async=!0,n.src=i+"?sdkid="+e+"&lib="+t;e=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];e.parentNode.insertBefore(n,e)}; ttq.load('C9C6J4BC77U12DDTDJ3G'); ttq.page(); }(window, document, 'ttq'); </script><script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-RC260HVJQX"></script><script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('consent', 'default', { 'ad_user_data': 'denied', 'ad_personalization': 'denied', 'ad_storage': 'denied', 'analytics_storage': 'granted', 'wait_for_update': 500, }); gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-RC260HVJQX'); </script><script type='text/javascript'> var googletag = googletag || {}; googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; (function() { var gads = document.createElement('script'); gads.async = true; gads.type = 'text/javascript'; var useSSL = 'https:' === document.location.protocol; gads.src = (useSSL ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js'; var node = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; node.parentNode.insertBefore(gads, node); })(); </script><script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { var ad_des = ad_mob = ad_tab = [970, 90]; ad_tab = [728, 90]; ad_mob = [320, 50]; var adMapping = googletag.sizeMapping(). addSize([1024, 200], ad_des). addSize([750, 200], ad_tab). addSize([0, 0], ad_mob). build(); googletag.defineSlot( '/2602704/site_header_970x90', ad_des, 'kr-ad-1-site_header_970x90' ).defineSizeMapping(adMapping).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); var ad_des = ad_mob = ad_tab = [300, 250]; ad_tab = [300, 250]; ad_mob = [320, 150]; var adMapping = googletag.sizeMapping(). addSize([1024, 200], ad_des). addSize([750, 200], ad_tab). addSize([0, 0], ad_mob). build(); googletag.defineSlot( '/2602704/PodcastLanding_300x250_first', ad_des, 'kr-ad-69-PodcastLanding_300x250_first' ).defineSizeMapping(adMapping).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); var ad_des = ad_mob = ad_tab = [300, 250]; ad_tab = [300, 250]; ad_mob = [320, 150]; var adMapping = googletag.sizeMapping(). addSize([1024, 200], ad_des). addSize([750, 200], ad_tab). addSize([0, 0], ad_mob). build(); googletag.defineSlot( '/2602704/PodcastLanding__300x250__second', ad_des, 'kr-ad-70-PodcastLanding__300x250__second' ).defineSizeMapping(adMapping).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); var ad_des = ad_mob = ad_tab = [970, 250]; ad_tab = [728, 250]; ad_mob = [300, 250]; var adMapping = googletag.sizeMapping(). addSize([1024, 200], ad_des). addSize([750, 200], ad_tab). addSize([0, 0], ad_mob). build(); googletag.defineSlot( '/2602704/PodcastLanding_970x250_first', ad_des, 'kr-ad-71-PodcastLanding_970x250_first' ).defineSizeMapping(adMapping).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script><template id="cookie-consent__cookie-bar"><div class="cookie-bar"><div class="row mb-2 mb-lg-0"><div class="col-1"></div><div class="col-lg-8 ml-4 ml-lg-0"><span> This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. <a href="/legal/privacy/" target="_blank">Learn more</a></span></div><div class="col-lg-3 col-xs-12 buttons"><button type="button" class="cookie-consent__accept btn btn-primary mr-5">Accept</button><button type="button" class="cookie-consent__decline btn btn-primary">Decline</button></div></div></div></template><script id="cookie-consent__cookie-groups" type="application/json">[{"varname": "kr_user_cookie_consent", "name": "Kirkus User Cookie Consent", "description": "Kirkus User Cookie Consent", "is_required": false}]</script><script type="module"> import { showCookieBar } from 'https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/js/vendor/cookie_consent/cookiebar.module.js'; const consentAccepted = function() { document.querySelector('body').classList.remove('with-cookie-bar'); localStorage.setItem("consentGranted", "true"); function gtag() { dataLayer.push(arguments); } gtag('consent', 'update', { ad_user_data: 'granted', ad_personalization: 'granted', ad_storage: 'granted', analytics_storage: 'granted' }); // Load gtag.js script. const gtagScript = document.createElement('script'); gtagScript.async = true; gtagScript.src = 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-RC260HVJQX'; const firstScript = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; firstScript.parentNode.insertBefore(gtagScript,firstScript); } showCookieBar({ statusUrl: '/cookies/status/', templateSelector: '#cookie-consent__cookie-bar', cookieGroupsSelector: '#cookie-consent__cookie-groups', acceptSelector: '.cookie-consent__accept', declineSelector: '.cookie-consent__decline', onShow: () => document.querySelector('body').classList.add('with-cookie-bar'), onAccept: () => consentAccepted(), onDecline: () => document.querySelector('body').classList.remove('with-cookie-bar'), }); </script> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "WebPage", "name": "Discover Books", "url": "https://www.kirkusreviews.com/podcast/2024-10-29/", "description": "Book reviews, recommendations, and the latest literary news from the most trusted voice in book discovery, Kirkus Reviews", "breadcrumb": { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [{ "@type": "ListItem", "position": "1", "item": { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://www.kirkusreviews.com", "name": "Kirkus Reviews" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": "2", "item": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.kirkusreviews.com/podcast/2024-10-29/", "name": "Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction | Kirkus Reviews" } } ] } } </script> </head> <body class="" id="podcast-detail" data-slot-scope="" hx-headers='{"X-CSRFToken": "1bgIy6p5irEIrFi9IAjbWqhhnXgemLl5sA2Vhy8WYOUlWWbrVTFAt0ZpW7zOCGf7"}'> <header role="group" class="header-section"><div class="container-fluid advertise-top-banner"><div class="text-center" id="kr-ad-1-site_header_970x90"><script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('kr-ad-1-site_header_970x90'); }); </script></div></div><div class="container desktop-top-header"><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-4"></div><div class="col-lg-4 text-center top-logo"><a class="kirkus-brand" href="/"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/logo/kirkus-nav-logo.svg" class="img-fluid kirkus-logo" alt="Kirkus logo"></a></div><div class="col-lg-4"><ul class="list-inline top-navbar float-right row"><li class="list-inline-item top-user-profile"><div class="top-user-details"><nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-light justify-content-center"><div class="navbar-collapse collapse justify-content-between align-items-center" id="navbarSupportedContent"><ul class="navbar-nav justify-content-center"><li class="dropdown "><div class="authed-user-menu" style="display: none;"><a href="/" class="user-name user nav-link nav-dropdown user-logged-in" data-toggle="dropdown"></a><ul class="dropdown-menu user-logged-in-dropdown" aria-labelledby="navbarDropdown"><a href="https://cms.kirkusreviews.com/admin" class="dropdown-item user-is-staff" style="display: none;">ADMIN AREA</a><a href="/my-bookshelf/" class="dropdown-item">MY BOOKSHELF</a><a href="/dashboard/" class="dropdown-item">MY DASHBOARD</a><a href="/profile/" class="dropdown-item">MY PROFILE</a><a href="/subscription/logout/?next=/podcast/2024-10-29/" class="dropdown-item log-me-out">SIGN OUT</a></ul></div><a href="/subscription/login/?next=/podcast/2024-10-29/" class="user-name nav-link log-me-in"> SIGN IN </a></li></ul></div></nav></div></li><li class="list-inline-item text-right col p-0 profile-img"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/user.png" alt="Profile Picture" class="img-fluid rounded-circle user-profile-top-img"></li></ul></div></div></div><div id="overlay" class="overlay"></div><div class="main-navbar"><nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-light sticky"><button class="navbar-toggler collapsed mobile-toggle" type="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#navbarMobile" aria-controls="navbarMobile" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation"><span class="icon-bar top-bar"></span><span class="icon-bar middle-bar"></span><span class="icon-bar bottom-bar"></span></button><a href="/" class="navbar-brand mr-0 nav-logo"><img id="site-name" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/logo/kirkus-nav-logo.svg" alt="kirkus nav logo"></a><ul class="show-on-mobile search-section"><div class="searchbox"><form action="/search/books/" method="GET" id="mob-search-form"><input name="q" class="search-box-item" required autocomplete="no-fill" type="search" placeholder="Try an author name or book title" pattern=".{3,}" title="Minimum 3 characters required."><button type="submit" class="search-button-for-mobile"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/search.png"></button><div class="input-group"><div class="form-check"><label class="containercheck">Book reviews <input checked type="radio" form-type="mob" value="t" name="sf"><span class="checkmark"></span></label></div><div class="form-check"><label class="containercheck"> News & Features <input type="radio" form-type="mob" data-api-url="/api/v1/search/news_n_features/" value="b" name="sf"><span class="checkmark"></span></label></div><div class="form-check"><label class="containercheck"> Video Interviews <input type="radio" form-type="mob" data-api-url="/api/v1/search/kirkus-tv/" value="v" name="sf"><span class="checkmark"></span></label></div><div class="form-check"><label class="containercheck"> Podcast Interviews <input type="radio" form-type="mob" data-api-url="/api/v1/search/podcast/" value="p" name="sf"><span class="checkmark"></span></label></div><div class="form-check"><label class="containercheck"> Pro Connect <input type="radio" form-type="mob" data-api-url="/api/v1/search/pro-authors/" value="pr" name="sf"><span class="checkmark"></span></label></div></div></form></div><li class="list-inline-item close-search-icon"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/search.png" alt="search reviews or articles" class="search-icons"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/search-close.png" alt="close" class="close-icon"></li></ul><div class="navbar-collapse collapse justify-content-between align-items-center" id="navbarMobile"><ul class="navbar-nav navbar-align navigation-bar"><li class="nav-item dropdown"><a class="nav-link nav-dropdown" href="/discover-books/" id="navbarDropdownBookReviews" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> Book Reviews <span></span></a><ul class="dropdown-menu discover-books" aria-labelledby="navbarDropdownBookReviews"><div class="container mega-menu-container"><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-9 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 mega-menu-border"><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-4"><div class="row"><p class="browse-text">Browse by Genre</p></div></div><div class="col-lg-8 view-all-text"><div class="row"><a href="/discover-books/">View All</a></div></div></div><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><div class="row"><a href="/discover-books/fiction">Fiction</a><a href="/discover-books/thriller-suspense">Thriller & Suspense</a><a href="/discover-books/mystery-detective">Mystery & Detective</a><a href="/discover-books/romance">Romance</a></div></div><div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><div class="row"><a href="/discover-books/science-fiction-fantasy">Science Fiction & Fantasy</a><a href="/discover-books/nonfiction">Nonfiction</a><a href="/discover-books/biography-memoir">Biography & Memoir</a><a href="/discover-books/history">History</a></div></div><div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><div class="row"><a href="/discover-books/current-events-social-issues">Current Events & Social Issues</a><a href="/discover-books/graphic-novels-comics">Graphic Novels & Comics</a><a href="/discover-books/teen">Teens & Young Adult</a><a href="/discover-books/childrens">Children's</a></div></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-3 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 popular-content-column"><div class="col-md-11 offset-1"><div class="row"><p class="popular-text">Popular Content</p><a href="/discover-books/?rating=bestsellers">Bestsellers</a><a href="/book-lists/">Book lists</a><a href="/best-of/2024/fiction/books/">Best Of 2024</a><a href="/2024/gift-guide/">Holiday Gift Guide</a></div></div></div></div></div></ul></li><li class="nav-item dropdown"><a class="nav-link nav-dropdown" href="#" id="navbarDropdownNewsFeatures" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> News & Features <span></span></a><ul class="dropdown-menu news-n-feature-menu" aria-labelledby="navbarDropdownNewsFeatures"><div class="container mega-menu-container"><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-6 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 news-mega-menu mega-menu-border"><div class="col-md-12"><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-5"><div class="row"><p class="popular-text">Popular Genres</p></div></div><div class="col-lg-7 view-all-text"><div class="row"></div></div><div class="col-lg-5"><div class="row"><a href="/news-and-features/genres/fiction/">General Fiction</a><a href="/news-and-features/genres/nonfiction/">Nonfiction</a><a href="/news-and-features/genres/young-adult/">Teen</a><a href="/news-and-features/genres/childrens/">Children's</a></div></div><div class="col-lg-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><div class="row"><a href="/news-and-features/genres/science-fiction-and-fantasy/">Science Fiction & Fantasy</a><a href="/news-and-features/genres/mysteries-and-thrillers/">Mystery & Thriller</a><a href="/news-and-features/genres/romance/">Romance</a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-6 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 popular-content-column"><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-7"><div class="row"><p class="browse-text">Browse by Content Type</p></div></div><div class="col-lg-5 view-all-text"></div><div class="col-lg-5"><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/profiles/">Profiles</a><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/perspectives/">Perspectives</a><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/awards/">Awards</a><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/seen-and-heard/">Seen & Heard</a></div><div class="col-lg-7 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/book-to-screen/">Book to Screen</a><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/in-the-news/">In the News</a><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/video-interviews/">Video Interviews</a><a href="/podcast/">Fully Booked Podcast</a></div></div></div></div></div></ul></li><li class="nav-item dropdown"><a class="nav-link nav-dropdown" href="#" id="navbarDropdownPrize" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> Kirkus Prize <span></span></a><ul class="dropdown-menu kirkus-prize-mega-menu" aria-labelledby="navbarDropdownPrize"><div class="container mega-menu-container"><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-xs-12 col-sm-12 magazine-book text-center"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/kirkus-prize.png" class="img-fluid kirkus-prize-img" alt="kirkus prize"></div><div class="col-lg-3 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 mega-menu-border"><div class="row"><p class="browse-text">Winners & Finalists</p><div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><a href="/prize/2024/">2024</a><a href="/prize/2023/">2023</a><a href="/prize/2022/">2022</a><a href="/prize/2021/">2021</a></div><div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><a href="/prize/2020/">2020</a><a href="/prize/2019/">2019</a><a href="/prize/2018/">2018</a><a href="/prize/2017/">2017</a></div><div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><a href="/prize/2016/">2016</a><a href="/prize/2015/">2015</a><a href="/prize/2014/">2014</a></div></div></div><div class="col-md-1 winner-year"></div><div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 popular-content-column"><div class="col-md-12 general-info-sec"><div class="row"><p class="popular-text">General Information</p><a href="/prize/">About the Kirkus Prize</a><a href="/prize/judges/">Kirkus Prize Jurors</a></div></div></div></div></div></ul></li><li class="nav-item dropdown"><a class="nav-link nav-dropdown" href="#" id="navbarDropdownMagazine" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> Magazine <span></span></a><ul class="dropdown-menu magazine-mega-menu" aria-labelledby="navbarDropdownMagazine"><div class="container mega-menu-container"><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><div class="col-md-10 offset-2"><p class="browse-text"> Pre-publication book reviews and features keeping readers and industry influencers in the know since 1933. </p></div></div><div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 magazine-book text-center"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/issue/feature_art/120124_KR_Cover_animated.gif.295x385_q85_crop-smart.jpg" class="img-fluid book-shadow magazine-book-img"></div><div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 popular-content-column"><div class="col-md-11 offset-1"><div class="row"><a href="/magazine/current/">Current Issue</a><a href="/magazine/special-issue/">Special Issues</a><a href="/magazine/">All Issues</a><a href="/profile/">Manage Subscription</a><a href="/magazine/subscription/">Subscribe</a></div></div></div></div></div></ul></li><li class="nav-item dropdown"><a class="nav-link nav-dropdown" href="/writers-center/" id="navbarDropdownWritersCenter" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> Writers' Center <span></span></a><ul class="dropdown-menu writers-center-mega-menu" aria-labelledby="navbarDropdownWritersCenter"><div class="container mega-menu-container"><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-6 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 writers-column1"><div class="col-md-11 offset-1 magazine-book mega-menu-border"><p><a href="/writers-center/" class="browse-text">Resources & Education</a></p><a href="/writers-center/writing/">Writing</a><a href="/writers-center/editing/">Editing</a><a href="/writers-center/publishing/">Publishing</a><a href="/writers-center/marketing/">Marketing</a></div></div><div class="col-lg-6 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 popular-content-column"><div class="col-md-11 offset-1"><div class="row"><p class="popular-text">Services for Authors</p><a href="/editing-services/">Hire A Professional Book Editor</a><a href="/indie-reviews/">Get Your Book Reviewed</a><a href="/formatting-services/">Format Your Book for Publication</a><a href="/cover-design-services/">Hire an Expert Cover Designer</a><a href="/book-marketing/">Advertise Your Book</a><a href="/proconnect/purchase/">Launch A Pro Connect Author Page</a></div></div></div></div></div></ul></li><li class="nav-item dropdown"><a class="nav-link nav-dropdown" href="#" id="navbarDropdownMore" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> More <span></span></a><ul class="dropdown-menu more-mega-menu" aria-labelledby="navbarDropdownMore"><div class="container mega-menu-container"><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-6 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 writers-column1"><div class="col-md-11 offset-1 magazine-book mega-menu-border"><p class="popular-text" style="display: inline">Kirkus Diversity</p><p class="popular-text">Collections</p><a href="/diversity/">Browse Collections</a><a href="/diversity/about/">About Kirkus Collections</a></div></div><div class="col-lg-6 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 popular-content-column"><div class="col-md-11 offset-1"><div class="row"><p class="popular-text">Kirkus Pro Connect</p><a href="/proconnect/books-to-discover/">Discover Content</a><a href="/proconnect/browse-talent/">Browse Talent </a><a href="/proconnect/">About Pro connect </a><a href="/proconnect/purchase/">Launch An Author Page </a></div></div></div></div></div></ul></li></ul><ul class="nav navbar-nav navigation-bar flex-row justify-content-center flex-nowrap scrollbar-section"><li class="list-inline-item user-scrollbar"><div class="scrollbar-user-profile"><nav class="navbar navbar-expand-md navbar-light justify-content-center"><div class="navbar-collapse collapse justify-content-between align-items-center" id="navbarSupportedContent"><ul class="navbar-nav justify-content-center"><li class="dropdown "><a href="#" class="user-profile-picture nav-link"><img alt="Profile Picture" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/user.png" class="img-fluid user-icon rounded-circle"></a><div class="authed-user-menu" style="display: none;"><a href="/" class="user-name user nav-link nav-dropdown user-logged-in" data-toggle="dropdown"></a><ul class="dropdown-menu user-logged-in-dropdown" aria-labelledby="navbarDropdown"><a href="https://cms.kirkusreviews.com/admin" class="dropdown-item user-is-staff" style="display: none;">ADMIN AREA</a><a href="/my-bookshelf/" class="dropdown-item">MY BOOKSHELF</a><a href="/dashboard/" class="dropdown-item">MY DASHBOARD</a><a href="/profile/" class="dropdown-item">MY PROFILE</a><a href="/subscription/logout/?next=/podcast/2024-10-29/" class="dropdown-item log-me-out">SIGN OUT</a></ul></div><a href="/subscription/login/?next=/podcast/2024-10-29/" class="user-name nav-link log-me-in"> SIGN IN </a></li></ul></div></nav></div></li><li class="search-menu-options"><ul class="list-inline search-dropdown hide-on-mobile"><li class="list-inline-item"><div class="searchbox"><form action="/search/books/" method="GET" id="-search-form"><input name="q" class="search-box-item" required autocomplete="no-fill" type="search" placeholder="Try an author name or book title" pattern=".{3,}" title="Minimum 3 characters required."><button type="submit" class="search-button-for-mobile"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/search.png"></button><div class="input-group"><div class="form-check"><label class="containercheck">Book reviews <input checked type="radio" form-type="" value="t" name="sf"><span class="checkmark"></span></label></div><div class="form-check"><label class="containercheck"> News & Features <input type="radio" form-type="" data-api-url="/api/v1/search/news_n_features/" value="b" name="sf"><span class="checkmark"></span></label></div><div class="form-check"><label class="containercheck"> Video Interviews <input type="radio" form-type="" data-api-url="/api/v1/search/kirkus-tv/" value="v" name="sf"><span class="checkmark"></span></label></div><div class="form-check"><label class="containercheck"> Podcast Interviews <input type="radio" form-type="" data-api-url="/api/v1/search/podcast/" value="p" name="sf"><span class="checkmark"></span></label></div><div class="form-check"><label class="containercheck"> Pro Connect <input type="radio" form-type="" data-api-url="/api/v1/search/pro-authors/" value="pr" name="sf"><span class="checkmark"></span></label></div></div></form></div></li><li class="list-inline-item close-search-icon"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/search.png" alt="search" class="search-icons"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/search-close.png" alt="search close" class="close-icon"></li></ul></li></ul><div class="divider-bottom show-on-mobile"></div><ul class="list-inline user-details show-on-mobile"><li class="list-inline-item user-txt"><div class="dropdown"><div class="authed-user-menu" style="display: none;"><a href="/" class="user-name user nav-link nav-dropdown user-logged-in" data-toggle="dropdown"></a><ul class="dropdown-menu user-logged-in-dropdown" aria-labelledby="navbarDropdown"><a href="https://cms.kirkusreviews.com/admin" class="dropdown-item user-is-staff" style="display: none;">ADMIN AREA</a><a href="/my-bookshelf/" class="dropdown-item">MY BOOKSHELF</a><a href="/dashboard/" class="dropdown-item">MY DASHBOARD</a><a href="/profile/" class="dropdown-item">MY PROFILE</a><a href="/subscription/logout/?next=/podcast/2024-10-29/" class="dropdown-item log-me-out">SIGN OUT</a></ul></div><a href="/subscription/login/?next=/podcast/2024-10-29/" class="user-name nav-link log-me-in"> SIGN IN </a></div></li><li class="list-inline-item user-img"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/user.png" class="img-fluid user-icon rounded-circle" alt="avatar"></li></ul></div></nav></div></header><div class="container"></div> <div id="fb-root"></div> <script> (function (d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); </script> <section class="writers-center-article container podcast-detail-container"> <div class="kir-about-page"> <p class="kir-page-sub-label">PODCAST</p> <h2 class="heading">Episode 396: Nayantara Roy</h2> <p class="kir-page-sub-heading"> BY MEGAN LABRISE • October 29, 2024 </p> </div> <div class="main-image"> <div class="main-image-circle lead-image-mat-5"></div> <div class="main-image-center" style='background-image: url("https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/podcast/SILO-_Nayantara_Roy_c_Bianca_Catbagan_KN.png.840x960_q85_autocrop.png")'></div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg-8 col-md-8 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 writers-center-article-content podcast-content-1"> <div class="first-alphabet"> <p>Striking family secrets inhabit Nayantara Roy’s ‘The Magnificent Ruins.’</p> <p> <iframe class="player" width="100%" height="75" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://www.podcastone.com/episodewidget?episodeID=b0c08ebe-b14c-4635-a0ee-f7d7acf4d29b&logo=true" title="Episode 396: Nayantara Roy"></iframe> <p>On this episode of <em>Fully Booked</em>, Nayantara Roy joins us to discuss <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/nayantara-roy/the-magnificent-ruins/"><em>The Magnificent Ruins</em></a> (Algonquin, Nov. 12), a rich, multigenerational family saga set primarily in an exquisite, decrepit Kolkata mansion lately inherited by prodigal daughter Lila De. When Lila arrives from the United States, after many years away, she must take stock of the house, its denizens, and a host of long-kept secrets.</p> <p>Here’s a bit from our review of <em>The Magnificent Ruins: </em>“Lila De’s life in Brooklyn is a success, but a bereavement that pulls her back to her homeland of India forces her to confront her demons. Twenty-nine-year-old Lila is understandably saddened to hear of her grandfather’s death in India, the country she left at age 16. But she’s also shocked to learn she has inherited his enormous, historic, decaying mansion, still inhabited by generations of the Lahiri family, including her volatile, sometimes toxic mother, Maya, who divorced Lila’s father when she was an infant. Although just promoted to co-editorial director by the new management of her employer, a Manhattan-based publishing house, and involved in a relationship with a writer named Seth, Lila must return to Kolkata for eight weeks to attend the funeral and sort out her inheritance. Back in India, she is quickly swallowed up by family, responsibility, and memories, rediscovering her complex feelings toward Maya.…Then there’s Adil, her teenage love, still irresistible but now married.… While seeming at first a novel about binary choices—New York or Kolkata, work or family, Adil or Seth—over time this book’s core reveals itself to be darker and different…”</p> <p>Roy is a debut novelist, author of the Rick DeMarinis Prize–winning short story “8C,”a playwright whose work has been performed in India and the U.K., and a television executive at STARZ/Lionsgate, where she oversees the acquisition and creative development of original scripted television series. Originally from India, she lives in Los Angeles and is currently at work on her second novel, <em>Sisters of a Halved Heart</em>.</p> <p>In conversation, Roy shares a bit about what the prepublication process has been like for her as a debut novelist. We talk about the beginning of the novel, which focuses on family secrets, and how disclosure has the potential to result in liberation or disaster. We discuss Lila’s life in Brooklyn and Kolkata, her initial response to her inheritance, and her family’s response to her inheritance. We discuss the roles people are asked to assume in a family, how they shape others’ perceptions, and how these roles may change over time. We highlight Lila’s humor. Roy touches on the challenges of balancing her writing life with her executive role in television, the potential for adapting her novel into a series, and much more.</p> <p>Then editors Mahnaz Dar, John McMurtrie, and Laurie Muchnick share their top picks in books for the week.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>EDITORS’ PICKS:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/hanna-alkaf/tales-from-cabin-23/"><em>Tales From Cabin 23: Night of the Living Head</em></a> by Hanna Alkaf (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins)</p> <p><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/glory-edim/gather-me/"><em>Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me</em></a> by Glory Edim (Ballantine)</p> <p><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/susan-rieger/like-mother-like-mother/"><em>Like Mother, Like Mother</em></a> by Susan Rieger (Dial Press)</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/natalie-dossett/sarita/"><em>Sarita</em></a> by Natalie Musgrave Dossett</p> <p><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/r-barbara-gitenstein/experience-is-the-angled-road/"><em>Experience Is the Angled Road</em></a> by R. Barbara Gitenstein</p> <p><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/pierre-schwob/awe/"><em>Awe</em></a> by Pierre R. Schwob</p> <p><a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/bert-murray/being-jewish-in-2025-new-york-city/"><em>Being Jewish in 2025 New York City</em></a> by Bert Murray</p> <p> </p> <p>Fully Booked<em> is produced by Cabel Adkins Audio and Megan Labrise.</em></p> </div> </div> <div class="col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 writers-center-article-content podcast-content-2"> <div class="sidebar-content float-right-mobile"> <div class="sidebar-widget"> <div class="listsandfeaturereview-column more-stories-sec"> <a href="/news-and-features/" class="small-heading">MORE FEATURES</a> <div class="kirkus-small-list-bundle"> <ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline blogpost " data-id="16467"> <li class="list-inline-item list-image"> <div class="image-container person-nobg-list m-auto"> <a href="/news-and-features/articles/best-middle-grade-of-2024-ruth-chan/" title="Best Middle Grade of 2024: Ruth Chan"> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/blog/lead_art/1224x681_QA_Chan.jpg.175x85_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="person-img" alt="Best Middle Grade of 2024: Ruth Chan"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top list-content"> <a href="/news-and-features/content-type/profiles/" title="Profiles" class="card-title align-top">Profiles</a> <a href="/news-and-features/articles/best-middle-grade-of-2024-ruth-chan/" title="Best Middle Grade of 2024: Ruth Chan" class="card-text">Best Middle Grade of 2024: Ruth Chan</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline blogpost " data-id="16675"> <li class="list-inline-item list-image"> <div class="image-container person-nobg-list m-auto"> <a href="/news-and-features/articles/texas-school-district-bans-wicked-other-books/" title="Texas School District Bans ‘Wicked,’ Other Books"> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/blog/lead_art/12.2.24_News_Katy_Gregory_Maguire_c_Bruce_Glikas_Getty_Images_CROP.jpg.175x85_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="person-img" alt="Texas School District Bans ‘Wicked,’ Other Books"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top list-content"> <a href="/news-and-features/content-type/in-the-news/" title="In the News" class="card-title align-top">In the News</a> <a href="/news-and-features/articles/texas-school-district-bans-wicked-other-books/" title="Texas School District Bans ‘Wicked,’ Other Books" class="card-text">Texas School District Bans ‘Wicked,’ Other Books</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline blogpost " data-id="16673"> <li class="list-inline-item list-image"> <div class="image-container person-nobg-list m-auto"> <a href="/news-and-features/articles/biden-gets-reaction-to-black-friday-book-purchase/" title="Biden Gets Reaction to Black Friday Book Purchase"> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/blog/lead_art/12.2.24_News_Biden_c_Mandel_Ngan_AFP_via_Getty_Images_CROP.jpg.175x85_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="person-img" alt="Biden Gets Reaction to Black Friday Book Purchase"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top list-content"> <a href="/news-and-features/content-type/in-the-news/" title="In the News" class="card-title align-top">In the News</a> <a href="/news-and-features/articles/biden-gets-reaction-to-black-friday-book-purchase/" title="Biden Gets Reaction to Black Friday Book Purchase" class="card-text">Biden Gets Reaction to Black Friday Book Purchase</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline blogpost " data-id="16674"> <li class="list-inline-item list-image"> <div class="image-container person-nobg-list m-auto"> <a href="/news-and-features/articles/city-of-night-birds-is-reeses-book-club-pick/" title="‘City of Night Birds’ Is Reese’s Book Club Pick"> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/blog/lead_art/12.2.24_Seen_Reese_c_John_Nacion_Getty_Images_for_iMentor_CROP.jpg.175x85_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="person-img" alt="‘City of Night Birds’ Is Reese’s Book Club Pick"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top list-content"> <a href="/news-and-features/content-type/seen-and-heard/" title="Seen & Heard" class="card-title align-top">Seen & Heard</a> <a href="/news-and-features/articles/city-of-night-birds-is-reeses-book-club-pick/" title="‘City of Night Birds’ Is Reese’s Book Club Pick" class="card-text">‘City of Night Birds’ Is Reese’s Book Club Pick</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sidebar-widget"> <div class="advertise-container text-center" id="kr-ad-69-PodcastLanding_300x250_first"> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('kr-ad-69-PodcastLanding_300x250_first'); }); </script> </div> </div> <div class="sidebar-widget"> <div class="listsandfeaturereview-column popular-kirkus-stars"> <a class="small-heading">POPULAR KIRKUS STARS <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/right-arrow.png" class="img-fluid link-arrow p-2" alt="POPULAR KIRKUS STARS"/> </a> <div class="kirkus-small-list-bundle"> <ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline "> <li class="list-inline-item list-image"> <div class="image-container starred"> <a href="/book-reviews/bob-woodward/war-7/"> <img alt="WAR" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/d7645d39a19145b2bc45e788c39200d7/060650510d3148e3ae17a171a37853a5.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="book-shadow img-fluid"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top list-content"> <a title="WAR" class="card-text" href="/book-reviews/bob-woodward/war-7/">WAR</a> <p class="prize-label">BY BOB WOODWARD</p> </li> </ul> <ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline "> <li class="list-inline-item list-image"> <div class="image-container starred"> <a href="/book-reviews/paula-hawkins/the-blue-hour-3/"> <img alt="THE BLUE HOUR" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/ce0c02a93a694749abd28f5506150d4b/64885188bbe2495884926fdfe3a996d7.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="book-shadow img-fluid"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top list-content"> <a title="THE BLUE HOUR" class="card-text" href="/book-reviews/paula-hawkins/the-blue-hour-3/">THE BLUE HOUR</a> <p class="prize-label">BY PAULA HAWKINS</p> </li> </ul> <ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline "> <li class="list-inline-item list-image"> <div class="image-container starred"> <a href="/book-reviews/mimi-matthews/the-muse-of-maiden-lane/"> <img alt="THE MUSE OF MAIDEN LANE" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/8d79ab50edf9416bba6913fef4faa17f/efc51e1ad83a4a18b475dd12eb8354d3.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="book-shadow img-fluid"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top list-content"> <a title="THE MUSE OF MAIDEN LANE" class="card-text" href="/book-reviews/mimi-matthews/the-muse-of-maiden-lane/">THE MUSE OF MAIDEN LANE</a> <p class="prize-label">BY MIMI MATTHEWS</p> </li> </ul> <ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline divider-bottom"> <li class="list-inline-item list-image"> <div class="image-container starred"> <a href="/book-reviews/alexandra-loske/the-artists-palette/"> <img alt="THE ARTIST'S PALETTE" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/92694704f91242cfa37b174a2a5303c5/ca65e91947c545088561892e65c0893e.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="book-shadow img-fluid"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top list-content"> <a title="THE ARTIST'S PALETTE" class="card-text" href="/book-reviews/alexandra-loske/the-artists-palette/">THE ARTIST'S PALETTE</a> <p class="prize-label">BY ALEXANDRA LOSKE</p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div class="container-fluid bestseller-slider-sec shadow mb-5" id="bestsellers"> <div class="row"> <div class="bestseller-slider-row bg"> <div class="container"> <h1 class="heading">Our Take On This Week's Bestsellers</h1> <div class="d-none-soft"> <div class="bestseller-book-slide list-inline"> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item kirkus-star " data-verdict="1"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/nora-roberts/the-mirror-3/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/6f49bda0e540426d860302ac939f2d6e/94ac7a00eb2043e58ea8f5426e74e405.jpg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/6f49bda0e540426d860302ac939f2d6e/94ac7a00eb2043e58ea8f5426e74e405.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="THE MIRROR"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-get-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">GET IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item kirkus-star " data-verdict="1"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/cher-2/cher/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/7de7b4f95f03490c9b822da9eea5e67e/68f61aa8efdd403d910f42e0569f59cb.jpeg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/7de7b4f95f03490c9b822da9eea5e67e/68f61aa8efdd403d910f42e0569f59cb.jpeg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="CHER"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-get-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">GET IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item kirkus-star " data-verdict="1"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/bill-clinton/citizen-2/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/42a11dae7cba42cdab77c2cfecaf27f1/58bf8843a9684066a715923628d04f99.jpg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/42a11dae7cba42cdab77c2cfecaf27f1/58bf8843a9684066a715923628d04f99.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="CITIZEN"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-get-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">GET IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item " data-verdict="3"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/janet-evanovich/now-or-never-2/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/2de77186686049a6b42b827e8c0f1226/2662ea4487844088a23c053140d5f851.jpg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/2de77186686049a6b42b827e8c0f1226/2662ea4487844088a23c053140d5f851.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="NOW OR NEVER"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-skip-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">SKIP IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item " data-verdict="1"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/robin-wall-kimmerer/the-serviceberry/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/cc211165cd3943ec877ae0995b51b36c/183683198c4045d7aa15a3a0737d68d2.jpg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/cc211165cd3943ec877ae0995b51b36c/183683198c4045d7aa15a3a0737d68d2.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="THE SERVICEBERRY"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-get-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">GET IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item " data-verdict="1"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/melissa-landers/the-half-king-standard-edition/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/f31ca3a2197443c19b90ce4c36660794/5e6e2a507dd1409f840db84841227771.jpeg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/f31ca3a2197443c19b90ce4c36660794/5e6e2a507dd1409f840db84841227771.jpeg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="THE HALF KING"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-get-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">GET IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item kirkus-star " data-verdict="1"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/haruki-murakami/the-city-and-its-uncertain-walls/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/ea59b3b08bf046b9b4654fc517baf4cd/bd50d0ce44b64d8fbdda9ea9ee87d7df.jpg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/ea59b3b08bf046b9b4654fc517baf4cd/bd50d0ce44b64d8fbdda9ea9ee87d7df.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="THE CITY AND ITS UNCERTAIN WALLS"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-get-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">GET IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item " data-verdict="3"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/katee-robert/court-of-the-vampire-queen/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/15263c0fef5940cb8a79493e94cd7f5c/9781728264691.jpg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/15263c0fef5940cb8a79493e94cd7f5c/9781728264691.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="COURT OF THE VAMPIRE QUEEN"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-skip-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">SKIP IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item kirkus-star " data-verdict="1"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/david-baldacci/to-die-for-4/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/c5f2f6946b7242d9961ffd31bda99438/a7b5c785072c47bb934e9b02b5a5dade.jpg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/c5f2f6946b7242d9961ffd31bda99438/a7b5c785072c47bb934e9b02b5a5dade.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="TO DIE FOR"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-get-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">GET IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item " data-verdict="1"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/rob-sheffield/heartbreak-is-the-national-anthem/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/37a28b41e22947009964b7c96b5dd835/ea934c3a2ce34e5a89a72b9e8db45b39.jpg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/37a28b41e22947009964b7c96b5dd835/ea934c3a2ce34e5a89a72b9e8db45b39.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="HEARTBREAK IS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-get-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">GET IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item " data-verdict="1"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/mary-e-pearson/the-courting-of-bristol-keats/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/d549c16b65ea42649e7358b935fe358a/cea46314bef3424da38af19c35bc1e72.jpg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/d549c16b65ea42649e7358b935fe358a/cea46314bef3424da38af19c35bc1e72.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="THE COURTING OF BRISTOL KEATS"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-get-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">GET IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item kirkus-star " data-verdict="1"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/isabel-ibanez/where-the-library-hides/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/094cd6969eb648cdac47a473bdb55216/68a03a02f66c42cdbe08dcc35dc46fee.jpg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/094cd6969eb648cdac47a473bdb55216/68a03a02f66c42cdbe08dcc35dc46fee.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="WHERE THE LIBRARY HIDES"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-get-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">GET IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item " data-verdict="1"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/alice-hemming/the-snow-thief/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/a73f3d87fcf64995abb88960bf543e88/4dc5c68bea3f43878e5368ecd2752ac9.jpg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/a73f3d87fcf64995abb88960bf543e88/4dc5c68bea3f43878e5368ecd2752ac9.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="THE SNOW THIEF"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-get-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">GET IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item kirkus-star " data-verdict="1"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/claire-keegan/small-things-like-these/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/110d86de420740f3b759de245501f838/9780802158741.jpg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/110d86de420740f3b759de245501f838/9780802158741.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-get-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">GET IT</span> </span> </div> </div> <div class="kr-slick-item align-bottom list-inline-item " data-verdict="1"> <div class="image-container mx-auto d-block"> <a href="/book-reviews/pascale-lacelle/stranger-skies/" data-href="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/0f0c1aa5b3234879a19715a09d714e1e/d9a142bdc57246dba096253c61669460.jpg.260x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="progressive replace"> <img class="book-shadow img-fluid mx-auto d-block bottom-img preview" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/0f0c1aa5b3234879a19715a09d714e1e/d9a142bdc57246dba096253c61669460.jpg.72x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" alt="STRANGER SKIES"/> </a> </div> <div class="bestseller-status-text"> <span class="buy-it-text"> <p class="book-verdict-text">Our Verdict</p> <span class="verdict-get-it" id="book-verdict-btn-text">GET IT</span> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container pb-3"> <div class="what-to-read-now-arrow-row row p-3 rounded d-flex flex-row-reverse"> <div class="p-2 bestseller-next"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/forward.svg" /></div> <div class="p-2 bestseller-prev"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/back.svg" /></div> </div> </div> </div> <section class="issue-book-list issue-featured other-podcasts"> <div class="container issue-more-in-section pt-0"> <div class="issue-more-posts"> <p class="small-heading mb-4">More Podcast Episodes</p> <ul class="list-inline medium-card-list podcast"> <li class="list-inline-item medium-list"> <div class="image-container person-bg-medium-list podcast-title-cover podcast-image-container"> <a href="/podcast/2024-12-03/" title="Ying Chang Compestine and editor Mahnaz Dar celebrate this year's best picture books."> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/73e5c78bd1724b6389bf25c5e57af055/cb1cbea4576e40a1b53824366afe111c.jpg.200x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="medium-card-list-img podcast-title-cover" alt="Ying Chang Compestine and editor Mahnaz Dar celebrate this year's best picture books."> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top medium-card-list-content"> <div class="lead-text"> <a href="/podcast/"><p class="card-title align-top">PODCAST</p></a> <a class="card-text" href="/podcast/2024-12-03/"> Ying Chang Compestine and editor Mahnaz Dar celebrate this year's best picture books. </a> </div> </li> </ul> <ul class="list-inline medium-card-list medium-card-list-border-bottom podcast"> <li class="list-inline-item medium-list"> <div class="image-container person-bg-medium-list podcast-title-cover podcast-image-container"> <a href="/podcast/2024-11-26/" title="Our Best Books coverage continues with Professor Nell Irvin Painter and editor John McMurtrie."> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/a5bb3e9205424608ac65c710eabf2618/586388702b7c4ace9ae1f7dbc2fcfc5f.jpg.200x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="medium-card-list-img podcast-title-cover" alt="Our Best Books coverage continues with Professor Nell Irvin Painter and editor John McMurtrie."> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top medium-card-list-content"> <div class="lead-text"> <a href="/podcast/"><p class="card-title align-top">PODCAST</p></a> <a class="card-text" href="/podcast/2024-11-26/"> Our Best Books coverage continues with Professor Nell Irvin Painter and editor John McMurtrie. </a> </div> </li> </ul> <ul class="list-inline medium-card-list medium-card-list-border-bottom podcast"> <li class="list-inline-item medium-list"> <div class="image-container person-bg-medium-list podcast-title-cover podcast-image-container"> <a href="/podcast/2024-11-19/" title="Novelist Elise Bryant and fiction editor Laurie Muchnick kick off Kirkus&#8217; Best Books coverage."> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/b7f25a70c696425089e6839840b63e8b/ec5a898c643349da91a455e2a74e90ae.jpg.200x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="medium-card-list-img podcast-title-cover" alt="Novelist Elise Bryant and fiction editor Laurie Muchnick kick off Kirkus&#8217; Best Books coverage."> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top medium-card-list-content"> <div class="lead-text"> <a href="/podcast/"><p class="card-title align-top">PODCAST</p></a> <a class="card-text" href="/podcast/2024-11-19/"> Novelist Elise Bryant and fiction editor Laurie Muchnick kick off Kirkus’ Best Books coverage. </a> </div> </li> </ul> <ul class="list-inline medium-card-list medium-card-list-border-bottom podcast"> <li class="list-inline-item medium-list"> <div class="image-container person-bg-medium-list podcast-title-cover podcast-image-container"> <a href="/podcast/2024-11-12/" title="Lisa Le Feuvre and Rosie Schaap join us for more Holiday Gift Guide coverage."> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/61994eea4b064e3388317e3a4d41650f/2dee061493f24fb7ae20db196e08b743.jpg.200x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="medium-card-list-img podcast-title-cover" alt="Lisa Le Feuvre and Rosie Schaap join us for more Holiday Gift Guide coverage."> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top medium-card-list-content"> <div class="lead-text"> <a href="/podcast/"><p class="card-title align-top">PODCAST</p></a> <a class="card-text" href="/podcast/2024-11-12/"> Lisa Le Feuvre and Rosie Schaap join us for more Holiday Gift Guide coverage. </a> </div> </li> </ul> <ul class="list-inline medium-card-list medium-card-list-border-bottom podcast"> <li class="list-inline-item medium-list"> <div class="image-container person-bg-medium-list podcast-title-cover podcast-image-container"> <a href="/podcast/2024-11-05/" title="Cookbook stars Rose Levy Beranbaum and Paola Velez help launch our holiday coverage."> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/titles/title/cover/38650374bc8f4777aaf9b9ea4fbe1444/51704b724ac54b30b05694fe9d289131.jpg.200x0_q85_autocrop.jpg" class="medium-card-list-img podcast-title-cover" alt="Cookbook stars Rose Levy Beranbaum and Paola Velez help launch our holiday coverage."> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top medium-card-list-content"> <div class="lead-text"> <a href="/podcast/"><p class="card-title align-top">PODCAST</p></a> <a class="card-text" href="/podcast/2024-11-05/"> Cookbook stars Rose Levy Beranbaum and Paola Velez help launch our holiday coverage. </a> </div> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"> <div class="sidebar-content float-right-mobile"> <div class="sidebar-widget"> <div class="featured-interviews"> <p class="small-heading border-bottom pb-4">Featured Interviews</p> <div class="listsandfeaturereview-column feature-interview-column"> <div class="listsandfeaturereview-content"> <div class="kirkus-small-list-bundle"> <ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline video blogpost"> <li class="list-inline-item list-image"> <div class="image-container person-nobg-list m-auto"> <a href="/news-and-features/videos/v-formerly-eve-ensler-fully-booked-podcast/" title="V (Formerly Eve Ensler) | Fully Booked Podcast"> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/kirkustv/video/FB_V_thumbnail.jpeg" class="person-img" alt="V (Formerly Eve Ensler) | Fully Booked Podcast"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top list-content pl-3"> <a href="/news-and-features/content-type/video-interviews/" title="video" class="card-title align-top"> video </a> <a href="/news-and-features/videos/v-formerly-eve-ensler-fully-booked-podcast/" title="V (Formerly Eve Ensler) | Fully Booked Podcast" class="card-text"> V (Formerly Eve Ensler) | Fully Booked Podcast </a> </li> </ul> <ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline video blogpost"> <li class="list-inline-item list-image"> <div class="image-container person-nobg-list m-auto"> <a href="/news-and-features/videos/deepti-kapoor-fully-booked-podcast/" title="Deepti Kapoor | Fully Booked Podcast"> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/kirkustv/video/FB_Kapoor_thumbnail.jpeg" class="person-img" alt="Deepti Kapoor | Fully Booked Podcast"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top list-content pl-3"> <a href="/news-and-features/content-type/video-interviews/" title="video" class="card-title align-top"> video </a> <a href="/news-and-features/videos/deepti-kapoor-fully-booked-podcast/" title="Deepti Kapoor | Fully Booked Podcast" class="card-text"> Deepti Kapoor | Fully Booked Podcast </a> </li> </ul> <ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline video horizontal-line-mobile blogpost"> <li class="list-inline-item list-image"> <div class="image-container person-nobg-list m-auto"> <a href="/news-and-features/videos/leigh-bardugo-fully-booked-podcast/" title="Leigh Bardugo | Fully Booked Podcast"> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/kirkustv/video/FB_Bardugo_thumbnail.jpeg" class="person-img" alt="Leigh Bardugo | Fully Booked Podcast"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top list-content pl-3"> <a href="/news-and-features/content-type/video-interviews/" title="video" class="card-title align-top"> video </a> <a href="/news-and-features/videos/leigh-bardugo-fully-booked-podcast/" title="Leigh Bardugo | Fully Booked Podcast" class="card-text"> Leigh Bardugo | Fully Booked Podcast </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="sidebar-widget"> <div class="advertise-container text-center" id="kr-ad-70-PodcastLanding__300x250__second"> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('kr-ad-70-PodcastLanding__300x250__second'); }); </script> </div> </div> <div class="sidebar-widget"> <div class="featured-interviews"> <div class="listsandfeaturereview-column feature-interview-column"> <div class="listsandfeaturereview-content"> <div class="kirkus-small-list-bundle"> <ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline video blogpost"> <li class="list-inline-item list-image"> <div class="image-container person-nobg-list m-auto"> <a href="/news-and-features/videos/talia-hibbert-fully-booked-podcast/" title="Talia Hibbert | Fully Booked Podcast"> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/kirkustv/video/Hibbert_thumbnail.jpeg" class="person-img" alt="Talia Hibbert | Fully Booked Podcast"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top list-content pl-3"> <a href="/news-and-features/content-type/video-interviews/" title="video" class="card-title align-top"> video </a> <a href="/news-and-features/videos/talia-hibbert-fully-booked-podcast/" title="Talia Hibbert | Fully Booked Podcast" class="card-text"> Talia Hibbert | Fully Booked Podcast </a> </li> </ul> <ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline video horizontal-line-mobile blogpost"> <li class="list-inline-item list-image"> <div class="image-container person-nobg-list m-auto"> <a href="/news-and-features/videos/dacher-keltner-fully-booked-podcast/" title="Dacher Keltner | Fully Booked Podcast"> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/user-media/kirkustv/video/FB_Episode_E32-01.jpg" class="person-img" alt="Dacher Keltner | Fully Booked Podcast"> </a> </div> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-top list-content pl-3"> <a href="/news-and-features/content-type/video-interviews/" title="video" class="card-title align-top"> video </a> <a href="/news-and-features/videos/dacher-keltner-fully-booked-podcast/" title="Dacher Keltner | Fully Booked Podcast" class="card-text"> Dacher Keltner | Fully Booked Podcast </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div class="exhibit-container exhibit-container-horizontal"> <br> <div class="container medium-banner-advertise-mobile medium-banner-news"> <div class="medium-banner-advertise medium-advertisement advertise-tag"> <div class="text-center" id="kr-ad-71-PodcastLanding_970x250_first"> <script type='text/javascript'> googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('kr-ad-71-PodcastLanding_970x250_first'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="container kirkus-features"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg-8 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"> <div class="kirkus-review"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"> <a href="/magazine/2024-12-01/"> <img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/issue/feature_art/120124_KR_Cover_animated.gif.295x385_q85_crop-smart.jpg" class="img-fluid book-shadow" alt="cover image"> </a> </div> <div class="col-lg-8 col-md-8 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"> <div class="review-content"> <p class="kirkus-review-heading">The Magazine: <em>Kirkus Reviews</em></p> <p class="kirkus-review-description">Featuring 277 industry-first reviews of fiction, nonfiction, children’s, and YA books; also in this issue: the 200 best children’s and 100 best nonfiction books of 2024, Holiday Gift Guide, author interviews, and much more </p> <a class="kirkus-review-btn kirkus-primary-btn" href="/magazine/subscription/">subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"> <ul class="list-inline kirkus-star-section border-bottom"> <li class="list-inline-item align-middle"> <img class="img-fluid kirkus-star" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/star.png" alt="kirkus star"> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-middle feature-content"> <p class="title">The Kirkus Star</p> <p>One of the most coveted designations in the book industry, the Kirkus Star marks books of exceptional merit.</p> </li> </ul> <ul class="list-inline kirkus-star-section"> <li class="list-inline-item align-middle"> <img class="img-fluid kirkus-prize" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/kirkus-prize.png" alt="kirkus prize"> </li> <li class="list-inline-item align-middle feature-content"> <p class="title">The Kirkus Prize</p> <p>The Kirkus Prize is among the richest literary awards in America, awarding $50,000 in three categories annually.</p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container subscription"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-6 col-xs-6 first-read-mobile"> <h2 class="great-books-news-c"> Great Books & News Curated For You </h2> <p class="be-the-first-to-read"> Be the first to read books news and see reviews, news and features in <em>Kirkus Reviews</em>. Get awesome content delivered to your inbox every week. </p> </div> <div id="newsletter" class="col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-6 col-xs-6"> <h2 class="great-books-news-c success-message-emailer text-success">Thank you!</h2> <form class="form-inline subscription-form" id="newsletter-signup-form"> <label class="label-email subscribe-email" for="subscribe-email">EMAIL ADDRESS</label> <input type="email" class="form-control subscription-email" id="id_email" name="email" placeholder="Enter your email address" pattern="[a-z0-9._%+-]+@[a-z0-9.-]+\.[a-z]{2,4}$" title="Please provide a valid email address" required> <input type="hidden" name="tos" value="1"> <button class="kirkus-primary-btn" type="submit" id="subscription_form_submit">SIGN UP</button> <p class="text-danger error-message-emailer"></p> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> <section role="none" id="footer-sec" class="footer-sec"><div class="desktop-footer"><div class="container-fluid"><div class="row footer-top-spacing"><a class="footer-logo" href="/"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/logo/kirkus-nav-logo.svg" class="img-fluid" alt="kirkus nav logo"></a></div></div><div class="container-fluid"><div class="row"><div class="container"><ul class="list-inline accordion" id="footeraccordion"><li class="list-inline-item footer-menu-text align-top"><a href="#footerlinklist1" class="footer-list-header" data-toggle="collapse" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="footerlinklist1"> Discover Books <span></span></a><div class="footerlists-inline collapse show" id="footerlinklist1" data-parent="#footeraccordion"><a href="/discover-books/fiction">Fiction</a><a href="/discover-books/thriller-suspense">Thriller & Suspense</a><a href="/discover-books/mystery-detective">Mystery & Detective</a><a href="/discover-books/romance">Romance</a><a href="/discover-books/science-fiction-fantasy">Science Fiction & Fantasy</a><a href="/discover-books/nonfiction">Nonfiction</a><a href="/discover-books/biography-memoir">Biography & Memoir</a><a href="/discover-books/teen">Teens & Young Adult</a><a href="/discover-books/childrens">Children's</a></div></li><li class="list-inline-item footer-menu-text align-top"><a href="#footerlinklist2" class="footer-list-header" data-toggle="collapse" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="footerlinklist2"> News & Features <span></span></a><div class="footerlists-inline collapse show" id="footerlinklist2" data-parent="#footeraccordion"><a href="/discover-books/">Bestsellers</a><a href="/book-lists/">Book Lists</a><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/profiles/">Profiles</a><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/perspectives/">Perspectives</a><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/awards/">Awards</a><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/seen-and-heard/">Seen & Heard</a><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/book-to-screen/">Book to Screen</a><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/video-interviews/">Kirkus TV videos</a><a href="/news-and-features/content-type/in-the-news/">In the News</a></div></li><li class="list-inline-item footer-menu-text align-top"><a href="#footerlinklist3" class="footer-list-header" data-toggle="collapse" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="footerlinklist3"> Kirkus Prize <span></span></a><div class="footerlists-inline collapse show" id="footerlinklist3" data-parent="#footeraccordion"><a href="/prize/2024/">Winners & Finalists</a><a href="/prize/">About the Kirkus Prize</a><a href="/prize/judges/">Kirkus Prize Judges</a></div></li><li class="list-inline-item footer-menu-text align-top"><a href="#footerlinklist4" class="footer-list-header" data-toggle="collapse" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="footerlinklist4"> Magazine <span></span></a><div class="footerlists-inline collapse show" id="footerlinklist4" data-parent="#footeraccordion"><a href="/magazine/current/">Current Issue</a><a href="/magazine/">All Issues</a><a href="/profile/">Manage My Subscription</a><a href="/magazine/subscription/">Subscribe</a></div></li><li class="list-inline-item footer-menu-text align-top"><a href="#footerlinklist5" class="footer-list-header" data-toggle="collapse" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="footerlinklist5"> Writers’ Center <span></span></a><div class="footerlists-inline collapse show" id="footerlinklist5" data-parent="#footeraccordion"><a href="/editing-services/">Hire a Professional Book Editor</a><a href="/indie-reviews/">Get Your Book Reviewed</a><a href="/book-marketing/">Advertise Your Book</a><a href="/proconnect/purchase/">Launch a Pro Connect Author Page</a><a href="/writers-center/">Learn About The Book Industry</a></div></li><li class="list-inline-item footer-menu-text align-top"><a href="#footerlinklist6" class="footer-list-header" data-toggle="collapse" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="footerlinklist6"> More <span></span></a><div class="footerlists-inline collapse show" id="footerlinklist6" data-parent="#footeraccordion"><a href="/diversity/">Kirkus Diversity Collections</a><a href="/proconnect/">Kirkus Pro Connect</a><a href="/profile/">My Account/Login</a></div></li><li class="list-inline-item footer-menu-text align-top"><a href="#footerlinklist7" class="footer-list-header" data-toggle="collapse" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="footerlinklist7"> About Kirkus <span></span></a><div class="footerlists-inline collapse show" id="footerlinklist7" data-parent="#footeraccordion"><a href="/about/history/">History</a><a href="/about/team/">Our Team</a><a href="/contest/All-Giveaways/">Contest</a><a href="/about/faq/">FAQ</a><a href="/press-center/about/">Press Center</a><a href="/about/publisher-submission-guidelines/">Info For Publishers</a></div></li><li class="list-inline-item footer-menu-text align-top toggle-footer-list"><a href="/about/contact-us/" class="footer-list-header">Contact us</a></li><li class="list-inline-item footer-menu-text align-top toggle-footer-list"><a href="/legal/privacy/" class="footer-list-header">Privacy Policy</a></li><li class="list-inline-item footer-menu-text align-top toggle-footer-list"><a href="/legal/terms/" class="footer-list-header">Terms & Conditions</a></li><li class="list-inline-item footer-menu-text align-top toggle-footer-list"><a href="/about/excerpting-policy/" class="footer-list-header">Reprints, Permission & <br /> Excerpting Policy</a></li></ul><hr class="top-spacing"></div></div></div><div class="container-fluid pt-5"><div class="row"><div class="container"><div class="footer-menu-container pb-1"><ul class="list-inline footer-menu"><li class="list-inline-item"><a href="/about/contact-us/">Contact Us</a></li><li class="list-inline-item"><a href="/legal/privacy/">Privacy Policy</a></li><li class="list-inline-item"><a href="/legal/terms/">Terms & Conditions</a></li><li class="list-inline-item"><a href="/about/excerpting-policy/">Reprints, Permission & Excerpting Policy</a></li></ul></div><p class="copyright-text"><span>© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC.</span> <span>All Rights Reserved.</span></p></div></div></div><div class="container-fluid pb-5"><div class="pb-2"><p class="follow-us-text">Follow</p></div><div class="row"><div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="social-icon-container"><ul class="list-inline social-icon"><li class="list-inline-item"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kirkusbookreviews" target="_blank" title="Follow us in Facebook"><i class="fa fa-facebook" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li><li class="list-inline-item"><a href="https://twitter.com/kirkusreviews" target="_blank" title="Follow us in Twitter"><i class="fa fa-twitter" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li><li class="list-inline-item"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/kirkus_reviews/" target="_blank" title="Follow us in Instagram"><i class="fa fa-instagram" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li><li class="list-inline-item"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu3ijbKnyedhK7dk46hb_ng" target="_blank" title="Follow us in Youtube"><i class="fa fa-youtube-play" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></section><button id="toTop" class="scrolltotop" title="Go to top"><img class="img-fluid float-left" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/drop-down-white-icon.png" alt="Go To Top"></button><div id="htmx-quickview-template"><div class="row book-toggle-description"><div class="container"><div class="fade collapse"><div class="card-body"><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-8 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 book-modal" id="meta-critics-details"><div class="row ratings meta-row-one"><div class="col-lg-3 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 rating-sec p-0"><div class="ratingcolumn"><div class="loading1"><div class="progress1"></div><div class="progress2"></div></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-3 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 rating-sec p-0"><div class="ratingcolumn"><div class="loading1"><div class="progress1"></div><div class="progress2"></div></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-3 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 rating-sec p-0"><div class="ratingcolumn"><div class="loading1"><div class="progress1"></div><div class="progress2"></div></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-3 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 rating-sec p-0"><div class="ratingcolumn"><div class="loading1"><div class="progress1"></div><div class="progress2"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="row ratings meta-row-two"><div class="col-lg-3 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 rating-sec p-0"><div class="ratingcolumn"><div class="loading1"><div class="progress1"></div><div class="progress2"></div></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-3 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 rating-sec p-0"><div class="ratingcolumn"><div class="loading1"><div class="progress1"></div><div class="progress2"></div></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-3 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 rating-sec p-0"><div class="ratingcolumn"><div class="loading1"><div class="progress1"></div><div class="progress2"></div></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-3 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 rating-sec p-0"><div class="ratingcolumn"><div class="loading1"><div class="progress1"></div><div class="progress2"></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="col-lg-4 col-md-12 col-sm-12 col-xs-12"><ul class="list-inline popular-books-list float-right-mobile"><li class="list-inline-item popular-genre-column"><p class="small-heading">Popular in this Genre</p><div class="kirkus-small-list-bundle latest-reviews" id="popular-titles-genre"><div class="loading1" id="popular-genre-1"><ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline"><li class="list-inline-item"><div class="book-placeholder-sm"></div></li><li class="list-inline-item"><div class="progress1"></div><div class="progress2"></div><div class="progress3"></div></li></ul></div><div class="loading2" id="popular-genre-2"><ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline"><li class="list-inline-item"><div class="book-placeholder-sm"></div></li><li class="list-inline-item"><div class="progress1"></div><div class="progress2"></div><div class="progress3"></div></li></ul></div><div class="loading3" id="popular-genre-3"><ul class="kirkus-small-list list-inline"><li class="list-inline-item"><div class="book-placeholder-sm"></div></li><li class="list-inline-item"><div class="progress1"></div><div class="progress2"></div><div class="progress3"></div></li></ul></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div><div class="close-btn"><a class="close" href="#" onclick="closeCollapse(this, event)"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/close.png" class="img-fluid" alt="Close Quickview"></a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="modal fade pop-up-modal book-shelf-modal" id="add-to-bookshelf-mod" data-backdrop="static" data-keyboard="false"><div class="modal-dialog"><div class="modal-content"><div class="modal-body"><div class="modal-title"><button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal"><span aria-hidden="true">×</span><span class="sr-only">Close</span></button><div class="popup-text"><p>Hey there, book lover.</p><p>We’re glad you found a book that interests you!</p></div></div><div class="popup-content"><h2 class="modal-heading">Please select an existing bookshelf</h2><form class="form" action="" id="add-to-bookshelf-form" method="POST"><input type="hidden" name="csrfmiddlewaretoken" value="1bgIy6p5irEIrFi9IAjbWqhhnXgemLl5sA2Vhy8WYOUlWWbrVTFAt0ZpW7zOCGf7"><select name="existing_shelf" class="form-control mx-auto" id="bookshelf_list"></select><p>OR</p><h2 class="modal-heading">Create a new bookshelf</h2><input type="text" value="" class="form-control mx-auto" id="new_shelf" placeholder="Bookshelf Name" name="new_shelf" pattern="[A-z0-9À-ž\-_\|'’\s]+"><input type="hidden" name="bookshelf_title_id" id="bookshelf_title_id" value=""><input type="hidden" name="bookshelf_request_type" id="bookshelf_request_type" value=""><button type="submit" class="kirkus-primary-btn"> Continue </button></form></div></div></div></div></div><div class="modal fade pop-up-modal" id="register-step-one-modal" data-backdrop="static" data-keyboard="true"><div class="modal-dialog"><div class="modal-content"><div class="modal-body"><div class="modal-title"><button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal"><span aria-hidden="true">×</span><span class="sr-only">Close</span></button><div class="popup-text"><p>We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!</p></div></div><div class="popup-content"><h2 class="modal-heading">Please sign up to continue.</h2><p>It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!</p><form role="form" action="" id="register-step-one-form" method="POST"><input type="hidden" name="csrfmiddlewaretoken" value="1bgIy6p5irEIrFi9IAjbWqhhnXgemLl5sA2Vhy8WYOUlWWbrVTFAt0ZpW7zOCGf7"><div class="form-group"><input type="email" class="form-control input-enter-email-address mx-auto" id="id_email_step_one" name="email" placeholder="Enter your email address" required></div><span class="register-step-one-feedback"></span><button type="submit" class="kirkus-primary-btn"> Almost there </button></form><p class="account-txt">Already have an account? <a href="#" data-dismiss="modal" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#login-modal">Log in.</a></p><p class="or-txt"> OR </p><a href="/auth/login/google-oauth2/?next=/podcast/2024-10-29/" class="btn sign-in-with-google"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/google-icon.png" class="img-fluid" alt="Sign in with Google"><span class="sign-in-google-txt">Sign in with Google</span></a><div class="form-divider"></div><p class="account-txt"> Trouble signing in? <a href="#" data-dismiss="modal" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#retrieve-password-modal"> Retrieve credentials. </a></p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="modal pop-up-modal almost-there fade" id="register-step-two-modal" data-backdrop="static" data-keyboard="true"><div class="modal-dialog"><div class="modal-content"><div class="modal-body"><div class="modal-title"><button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal"><span aria-hidden="true">×</span><span class="sr-only">Close</span></button></div><div class="popup-content"><h2 class="modal-heading">Almost there!</h2><form class="form almost-there-popup-form" id="register-step-two-form" method="post" action=""><input type="hidden" name="csrfmiddlewaretoken" value="1bgIy6p5irEIrFi9IAjbWqhhnXgemLl5sA2Vhy8WYOUlWWbrVTFAt0ZpW7zOCGf7"><input type="text" class="form-control mx-auto" id="id_first_name" maxlength="20" name="first_name" placeholder="First Name" required><input type="text" class="form-control mx-auto" id="id_last_name" maxlength="20" name="last_name" placeholder="Last Name" required><input type="hidden" id="id_username_step_two" name="username" value=""><input type="hidden" id="id_email_step_two" name="email" value=""><input type="password" class="form-control mx-auto" id="id_password1" name="password1" minlength="8" placeholder="Password" required><input type="password" class="form-control mx-auto" id="id_password2" name="password2" minlength="8" placeholder="Confirm Password" required><div class="input-group almost-there-check"><ul class="list-inline d-table w-100"><li class="list-inline-item d-table-cell text-left"><label class="containercheck">Reader <input type="checkbox" name="is_reader"><span class="checkmark"></span></label></li><li class="list-inline-item d-table-cell text-center"><label class="containercheck">Writer <input type="checkbox" name="is_writer"><span class="checkmark"></span></label></li><li class="list-inline-item d-table-cell text-right"><label class="containercheck">Industry Professional <input type="checkbox" name="is_industry_professional"><span class="checkmark"></span></label></li></ul></div><button type="submit" class="kirkus-primary-btn">Sign in</button><span class="tandc">By signing in, you agree to Kirkus’<a href="#"> Terms of Use.</a></span><div class="login-checks input-group"><div class="form-check"><label class="containercheck">Send me weekly book recommendations and inside scoop. <input name="newsletter" type="checkbox" checked><span class="checkmark"></span></label></div><div class="form-check keep-login"><label class="containercheck">Keep me logged in. <input name="remember_me" type="checkbox" checked><span class="checkmark"></span></label></div></div><p class="account-txt">Already have an account? <a href="#" data-dismiss="modal" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#login-modal">Log in.</a></p></form></div></div></div></div></div><div class="modal fade pop-up-modal have-an-account" id="login-modal" role="dialog" data-backdrop="static" data-keyboard="true"><div class="modal-dialog" role="document"><div class="modal-content"><div class="modal-body"><div class="modal-title"><button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal"><span aria-hidden="true">×</span><span class="sr-only">Close</span></button><div class="popup-text"><p>Welcome Back!</p></div></div><div class="popup-content"><h2 class="modal-heading pt-2">Sign in using your Kirkus account</h2><form class="form" id="login-form" action="" method="POST"><input type="text" class="form-control mx-auto" name="username" id="id_username" placeholder="Username" required><input type="password" name="password" class="form-control mx-auto" id="id_password" placeholder="Password" required><input type="hidden" name="task" id="id_task" value=""><button type="submit" class="kirkus-primary-btn">Sign in</button><div class="form-check keep-login"><label class="containercheck">Keep me logged in. <input name="remember_me" type="checkbox" checked><span class="checkmark"></span></label></div></form><p class="or-txt"> OR </p><a href="/auth/login/google-oauth2/?next=/podcast/2024-10-29/" class="btn sign-in-with-google"><img src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/img/kir_images/icons/google-icon.png" class="img-fluid" alt="Sign in with Google"><span class="sign-in-google-txt">Sign in with Google</span></a><div class="form-divider"></div><p class="account-txt"> Trouble signing in? <a href="#" data-dismiss="modal" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#retrieve-password-modal"> Retrieve credentials. </a></p><div class="need-help"><h2>Need Help?</h2><h5>Contact us: <a href="tel:+18003169361">1-800-316-9361</a> or email <a href="mailto:customercare@kirkus.com?Subject=Hello%20KirkusReviews"> customercare@kirkus.com</a></h5></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="modal pop-up-modal fade" id="retrieve-password-modal" data-backdrop="static" data-keyboard="true"><div class="modal-dialog"><div class="modal-content"><div class="modal-body"><div class="modal-title"><button type="button" class="close" data-dismiss="modal"><span aria-hidden="true">×</span><span class="sr-only">Close</span></button><div class="popup-text"><p>Don’t fret. We’ll find you.</p></div></div><div class="popup-content"><h2 class="modal-heading">Choose One</h2><form class="form retreive-popup-form" id="retrieve-password-form" method="post" action=""><input type="hidden" name="csrfmiddlewaretoken" value="1bgIy6p5irEIrFi9IAjbWqhhnXgemLl5sA2Vhy8WYOUlWWbrVTFAt0ZpW7zOCGf7"><p class="input-title">All Users</p><input type="email" class="form-control" id="id_email_retrieve" name="email" maxlength="254" placeholder="Enter email address"><p class="input-title">Magazine Subscribers (<a href="#">How to Find Your Reader Number</a>)</p><input type="number" class="form-control" id="id_reader_number" name="reader_number" placeholder="Enter reader number"><p class="input-title">If You’ve Purchased Author Services</p><input type="text" class="form-control" id="id_invoice_number" name="invoice_number" placeholder="Enter order number"><button type="submit" class="kirkus-primary-btn">Retrieve Credentials</button><p class="account-txt">Don’t have an account yet? <a href="#" data-dismiss="modal" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#register-step-one-modal">Sign Up.</a></p></form><div class="need-help"><h2>Need Help?</h2><h5>Contact us: <a href="tel:+18003169361">1-800-316-9361</a> or email <a href="mailto:customercare@kirkus.com?Subject=Hello%20KirkusReviews"> customercare@kirkus.com</a></h5></div></div></div></div></div></div><span id="mediaUrl" data-media-url="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/" style="display:none;"></span> <script type="text/javascript" src="/jsreverse/"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> var staticURL = "https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/"; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/js/runtime.bundle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/js/vendors.bundle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://d1fd687oe6a92y.cloudfront.net/js/app.bundle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var google_conversion_id = 1000613827; var google_custom_params = window.google_tag_params; var google_remarketing_only = true; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//www.googleadservices.com/pagead/conversion.js"></script> <noscript> <div style="display:inline;"> <img height="1" width="1" style="border-style:none;" alt="" src="//googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/1000613827/?value=0&guid=ON&script=0" /> </div> </noscript> <script type="text/javascript"> var _qevents = _qevents || []; (function () { var elem = document.createElement('script'); elem.src = "https://secure.quantserve.com/quant.js"; elem.async = true; elem.type = "text/javascript"; var scpt = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; scpt.parentNode.insertBefore(elem, scpt); })(); _qevents.push({ qacct: "p-68_kbMSV0yvuE" }); // Async HubSpot Analytics Code (function (d, s, i, r) { if (d.getElementById(i)) { return; } var n = d.createElement(s), e = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; n.id = i; n.src = '//js.hs-analytics.net/analytics/' + (Math.ceil(new Date() / r) * r) + '/1660698.js'; e.parentNode.insertBefore(n, e); })(document, "script", "hs-analytics", 300000); </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Book Reviews, Sites, Romance, Fantasy, Fiction | Kirkus Reviews